UC Announces Key Leadership Appointments

University of Cincinnati President Santa J. Ono has approved the appointment of two new positions related to safety and policing. James Whalen has been appointed Director of Public Safety and S. Gregory Baker as Director of Police Community Relations. Both Whalen and Baker will work collaboratively with Dr. Robin Engel, Vice President for Safety and Reform, to implement evidenced based, data driven policing and strengthen relationships between UC Police and the Greater Cincinnati community. C. Jason Goodrich will remain Chief of Police. Whalen is a former Cincinnati Police Lieutenant Colonel. Baker previously served as Executive Director of the Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV). Both Whalen and Baker will report to Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration Robert Ambach with a dotted line to President Ono.

Image of S. Gregory Baker

Image of S. Gregory Baker

“These individuals are the best people to move the University of Cincinnati forward on our promise to change and become best in class in university policing,” said UC President Santa J. Ono. “Both James Whalen and Greg Baker are highly respected, are well connected in the community, have direct and longtime experience in community policing in Cincinnati, and will help us build bridges with all of our partners. I look forward to working with them in the days and months ahead.”

PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD MONDAY:

When

:  10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, 2015

    

Where

: University of Cincinnati

              Myers Alumni Center - easy access to facility from Martin Luther King Drive via Woodside Drive.

               Media parking available immediately adjacent to building

           

Who

:  Dr. Santa Ono, President University of Cincinnati

            Robert Ambach, Senior VP for Administration and Finance            

            Dr. Robin Engel, VP for Safety and Reform

            James Whalen, Director of Public Safety

            S. Gregory Baker, Director or Police Community Relations

            Jason Goodrich, Chief of Police

Related Stories

1

University of Cincinnati’s IDD Education Center to Host Ninth Annual Red & Black Blast

December 18, 2025

The University of Cincinnati’s IDD Education Center will host its ninth annual Red & Black Blast on February 25, 2026, at Tangeman University Center. The signature event celebrates and supports the Center’s four programs—CEES, TAP, IMPACT Innovation, and RAAC—which create pathways in education, employment, and community life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

3

PhD student uses engineering to understand cardiovascular system

December 17, 2025

Drawn to the University of Cincinnati for the strong reputation in cardiovascular research and the connections with the UC Medical Center, Shrayesh Manegaonkar is pursuing a PhD in mechanical engineering at the College of Engineering and Applied Science. Recently, he was named Graduate Student Engineer of the Month for his work on biofluid mechanics, aiming to develop better diagnostic tools for cardiovascular diseases.